and a small easy gale.  All these were great signs, that we were near some land, after having had such constant brisk winds before.  In the morning after sunrise we saw the island at about 4 leagues distance.  But it was so hazy over it that we could see but a small part of it; yet even by that part I knew it to be the isle of Mayo.  See how it appeared to us at several views as we were compassing the east and south-east and south of it, to get to the road, on the south-west of it, and the road itself.

The author’s arrival at Mayo.

I got not in till the next day, February 11, when I come to an anchor in the road, which is the leeward part of the island; for it is a general rule never to anchor to windward of an island between the tropics.  We anchored at 11 o’clock in 14 fathom clean sand, and very smooth water, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore, in the same place where I anchored in my voyage round the world; and found riding here the Newport of London, a merchantman, Captain Barefoot commander, who welcomed me with 3 guns and I returned one for thanks.  He came from Fayal, one of the western islands; and had store of wine and brandy aboard.  He was taking in salt to carry to Newfoundland, and was very glad to see one of the King’s ships, being before our coming afraid of pirates, which of late years had much infested this and the rest of the Cape Verde Islands.

I have given some account of the island of Mayo and of other of these islands in my Voyage round the World, but I shall now add some further observations that occurred to me in this voyage.  The island of Mayo is about 7 leagues in circumference, of a roundish form, with many small rocky points shooting out into the sea a mile or more.  Its latitude is 15 degrees north, and as you sail about the isle, when you come pretty nigh the shore, you will see the water breaking off from those points; which you must give a berth to and avoid them.  I sailed at this time two parts in three round the island, but saw nothing dangerous besides these points; and they all showed themselves by the breaking of the water:  yet it is reported that on the north and north-north-west side there are dangerous shoals that lie farther off at sea; but I was not on that side.  There are 2 hills on this island of a considerable height; one pretty bluff, the other peaked at top.  The rest of the island is pretty level and of a good height from the sea.  The shore clear round hath sandy bays between the rocky points I spoke of, and the whole island is a very dry sort of soil.

Of the cape Verde islands; its salt pond compared with that of salt Tortuga; its trade for salt, and frape-boats.